Sowing Sustainability: Chamkour Singh’s Journey toward Eco-Friendly Farming in Barnala, Punjab

Chamkour Singh, 49 years, a resident of Dhilwan village in Barnala District, Punjab, owns seven acres of ancestral farmland. As a dedicated farmer, he has been actively involved in the CRM project since 2023, when the Goodyear Phase 2 Project was launched in his village. For years, Chamkour was aware of the challenges his community faced during the harvesting season due to stubble burning. He always wanted to adopt sustainable farming practices and avoid burning crop residue. However, due to a lack of resources, particularly machinery, he had no choice but to burn the residue to prepare his field for the next sowing season. Since the launch of the project in 2023, he and other farmers in his village have gained access to super seeder and mulcher, enabling them to manage crop residue efficiently without burning. This shift has brought multiple benefits: it improved soil health and reduced air pollution. Further, it has also led to some water retention, lower fuel consumption, and reduced dependency on chemical fertilizers to some extent. As a result, Chamkour has witnessed a significant positive change not just in his farming methods but also in the overall environmental and economic conditions of his village.